Experiencing God

[nebula]

Yes, but what if the mother did not provide the milk for the child in the first place?

You see,the analogy can go both ways.

No one denies the value of seeking God's face over His hand, but what if you never knew God's hand?

[terter]

It's been said numerous times during this thread, that we are not to base everything on feelings and I think most every one agrees with that. But to say all these feelings are dangerous is where we disagree.

God created us with feelings. People believe it's fine for them to act excited about their favorite football team, their kids, etc. how much more that we can be excited about our Heavenly Father.

So how do we know if the good feelings from the bad feelings? Again, The Word, it says that if we resist the enemy, he will flee.

Feelings are reflected in the fruit of the Spirit like peace, joy, and you have Psa 100:4, Psa 22:3 and Psa 114:2 plus numerous other verses that tell us God inhabits the praises of His people. Private worship time may or may not include reading the Word or petitions or requests but when we praise God we find these verses to be true and if He decides to touch us during these times, great!

Edited November 6, 2006 by terter

[bethshemaiah]

The enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy and he wouldn't cause these "feelings" like the original poster is referring to. These feelings cause us to hunger after God and become desperate to grow in our relationships with Him.

I am so glad that you mentioned this Terter........ very good point. The last thing the enemy would want is for us to want God more, to love Him more, to want to serve Him more. To be desperate for God, the enemy shudders at the thought of it................

[felix]

Yes, but what if the mother did not provide the milk for the child in the first place?

You see,the analogy can go both ways.

No one denies the value of seeking God's face over His hand, but what if you never knew God's hand?

I see what you are saying. The Lord had grabbed my attention with a physical miracle but that miracle was short lived. The Lord had changed something within me that was much more important. He had shown me that I have a spirit. Without any more of these miracles I continued to seek God more and more. I sought not after what God could give me but I sought God Himself. I grew out of asking God to fulfill my needs and into realizing his needs. I am in this process each day.

My main point is that we should not be carried away by physical and emotional feelings from God in that we seek these things before we seek God himself. I think we're looking far out of context with the word "feeling". I always love to dwell in prayer with the Lord where I feel true joy, peace and rest. This is a feeling that I have in spite of whatever my environment is...painful or pleasant.

Rather, I'm talking about what Stitchy experienced: the warm heat feeling in her body one of which I believe has to do with healing. I've experienced this before as well when a brother prayed over me. I have also experienced some physical miracles through fasting and after long courses of suffering. I also have a sensation of electricity whenever I enter some church gatherings, someone or I praise the Lord, when we pray, call on the Lord, or when someone speaks. I've had this go on for two years and I attribute it to the Lord's presence. Sometimes I don't have this sensation in some meetings and some I do. These are the "feelings" I'm talking about that can be dangerous if we seek after these things to warrant that we are right with God. I do not use my sensation of electricity to say that one church or people do not have the presence of God or that I'm not in the presence of God. It is a very dangerous thing if I started relying on this feeling. It could very well be from the devil. It does not matter to me. We have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We don't need many physical signs, He is making home in our hearts.

Most of all I think we're talking about a different context of "feeling". I think we all agree on the same things. It seems that everyone is on the right track. I'm trying to speak about more of these "feelings" in the context of supernatural occurences such as healings, visions, physical sensations. The devil can appear as an angel of light. A person may have seen an angel from God but if that person earnestly seeks to have another vision of an angel the devil can very easily take that opportunity to deceive him.

[terter]

I AGREE - most of us are on the right track - we do not want to get carried away with our feelings. We are part spirit and we're to worship the Lord In Spirit and In Truth. Yes, we have to exercise caution, be keenly aware of how the enemy will manifest himself, not to be in fear, and recognize God's anointing/touch whether it's through a sermon, song, testimony, prayer, etc. When we believe this verse it shows our seriousness about praising God regardless:

Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him...(KJV) or

Job 13:15 God may kill me, but still I will trust him ... (CEV)

Edited November 7, 2006 by terter

[nebula]

Rather, I'm talking about what Stitchy experienced: the warm heat feeling in her body one of which I believe has to do with healing. I've experienced this before as well when a brother prayed over me. I have also experienced some physical miracles through fasting and after long courses of suffering. I also have a sensation of electricity whenever I enter some church gatherings, someone or I praise the Lord, when we pray, call on the Lord, or when someone speaks. I've had this go on for two years and I attribute it to the Lord's presence. Sometimes I don't have this sensation in some meetings and some I do. These are the "feelings" I'm talking about that can be dangerous if we seek after these things to warrant that we are right with God. I do not use my sensation of electricity to say that one church or people do not have the presence of God or that I'm not in the presence of God. It is a very dangerous thing if I started relying on this feeling. It could very well be from the devil. It does not matter to me. We have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We don't need many physical signs, He is making home in our hearts.

Most of all I think we're talking about a different context of "feeling". I think we all agree on the same things. It seems that everyone is on the right track. I'm trying to speak about more of these "feelings" in the context of supernatural occurences such as healings, visions, physical sensations. The devil can appear as an angel of light. A person may have seen an angel from God but if that person earnestly seeks to have another vision of an angel the devil can very easily take that opportunity to deceive him.

I know exactly what you mean.

As for these things coming from the devil...? Well, I have experienced both the presence of the Lord and the presaence of demons, and a can say with full assurity that the two are nothing alike. Granted, a less discerning spirit may believe a false peace from a demonic presence, but having been in the real presence of the Lord, the "peace" of the devil is oppressive rather than uplifting. The "electricity" if you will of the Lord "feels" good and energizing. When it comes from the demonic, I often feel chills. Sometimes, I will have an uneasy "shaky" sense. If I feel these when I am contemplating or about to engage in something, they are quite clear signs to me to stop and stay away!

I don't know if you have felt both, but from my perspective, you can most assuredly tell the difference!

[terter]

Yes, we have to work on discerning. As far as experiencing something evil, learned to call on Jesus - He is Lord!

[cjrose]

I know that not all Christians have had a personal experience with God. Have you?

I think I had one a few weeks back during a 'prayer group' that some friends and I were doing... but I'm really unsure about it. When my friends prayed for me I felt a burning sensation just above my stomach, but I thought maybe it was me overreacting. Also my hands felt as though they were burning too. Later on a couple of friends prayed for me again and that time I felt like there was a ball of flame in my chest.. like around my heart.

I've been trying to have experiences again, but I can't seem to do it. How can I be touched by God again? I really really want to feel his prescense. I would love him to show me things, to show me what I'm doing wrong and to tell me what I should do that is right... but how?

My moment of re-birth I experienced a supernatural and divine experience with the Holy Spirit. Not everyone does. I experience God when I am being obedient and focused only on Him. Perfect Trust will allow you to open up and allow the Spirit to speak to you. He is now, but you must be in harmony, faith, trust, ON FIRE!! For Him to feel the experience of Him, to hear the messages, to convict you and help you know right from wrong.

When I feel depressed, my focus is not on our Father and how AWESOME He is. I separate from him because I am of worldly thought and my focus has changed from Him to me.

When you can get out of self, you can get into Him as He is in you. That warmth, or flame in your chest around your heart is His power, His love, He is speaking to you, empowering you!